Ashland Middle

Ashland Middle School is a public middle school in Ashland, Wisconsin, serving 366 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Ashland School District, which is ranked 384 out of 426 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ashland Middle consistently underperforms compared to the state average on the Forward Exam, with proficiency rates significantly below the Wisconsin average across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics ranged from 29-42%, compared to the state averages of 53-54%. The school also struggles to support the academic achievement of various student subgroups, with rankings for female, male, white, and low socioeconomic status students all in the bottom 25% of Wisconsin middle schools. Additionally, Ashland Middle has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.7% to 33.7% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average.

In contrast, the nearby Washburn Middle School consistently outperforms Ashland Middle and the state average on the Forward Exam, with proficiency rates ranging from 48-78% in 2024-2025. However, the Bayfield Middle School also struggles academically, ranking in the bottom 25% of Wisconsin middle schools, leaving families in the region with limited high-performing school options. The Ashland School District will need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to address these challenges and improve outcomes for their students.